The rest of that evening was an awkward affair. Ron and I didn't speak much during dinner, and then I'd excused myself to get some work done. Arthur had been kind enough to offer up his office, and I had just finished up my work, thinking maybe it was late enough that Ron might already be asleep. I climbed up the stairs to the bedroom to get ready to turn in for the night. I put my things away and got out my silky pajamas as Ron exited the loo. No such luck.
I took my things into the bathroom and got ready for bed. When I came out of the bathroom, I noticed Ron look up at me. His eyes were lingering, and I pretended not to notice. Maybe it was just my eyes playing tricks on me. I was thankful that I still chose to wear a bralette under the thin top since we were sharing a bed together.
"I'm sorry about earlier," I said as I climbed into bed and turned out the light.
"It wasn't your fault," he said. "Did you have a good day at least?"
"Sure, until they took me to the Hog's Head."
Ron snorted. "Yeah, Ginny sent me a video."
"Wonderful. I didn't enjoy any of it," I said through a shudder.
"What? Dave doesn't stack up?"
I knew he was taking the mickey out of me, and couldn't possibly know about my non-existent love life, but it still hurt. Maybe that's why I said, "Stack up to what? My expectations? Surely not."
"Well, if it makes you feel any better, all the women have taken part in his show for their hen parties, so it looks like you've been inducted into the group now."
A pang of guilt shot through me at Ron's words. His family was wonderful, and I'd been developing the suspicion that maybe it wasn't fair to them that we were lying about everything.
"So, were you and Harry boxing for fun?" I asked, changing the subject before I could overthink the possible implications of all this.
"Will you tell me more about that tattoo if I answer?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"Just didn't expect you to have one, I guess."
"Well, tell me about your afternoon first, and then I'll divulge that information."
"Harry was helping me let off some steam," he answered simply.
"Why?" I wasn't satisfied enough with his answer, so I decided to probe some more.
"Just a conversation I had with my dad."
"What's going on there? You mentioned something about it earlier, too."
"He wants me to move home and join Percy in running the company, but I'm happy where I am. I'm not really interested in corporate law."
"Makes sense. Is there a reason he won't respect your answer?"
"I don't know. He's always been so supportive, but I don't know what's been going on. He just pushes but won't tell me any details. It's frustrating."
"Is that the reason you don't come home often?"
"Part of it."
I didn't want to push him further, so I sat quietly for a moment before saying, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."
"It's fine. It's just hard seeing all of my siblings with their families, except Charlie, of course, and I'm not closer to any of that. Every time I come home, there's the added pressure about why I haven't met someone yet."
I nodded, even though he probably couldn't see me. "Well...I hope you stay."
Ron let out a chuckle. "Thanks. Now, how about that tattoo?"
I supposed he'd given me enough information, even though I couldn't help but want to know more. "It's a symbol for perseverance. It reminds me not to give up even when everything seems to be working against me."
"By everything, do you mean your mum?" Ron asked.
I couldn't see him in the darkness, but his voice sounded sincere. "Yes. She's never been satisfied with my need to focus more on my career than my personal life."
"There's nothing wrong with having both, you know."
"I know that, but you don't realize how hard it is to find someone that understands my dedication to my career. It's been almost two years since I've—nevermind."
"You don't mean..." Ron trailed off.
"Forget I said anything," I said quickly.
"Hermione—"
"Seriously, Ron, don't push it. No one wants to date me," I said matter-of-factly.
"You shouldn't degrade yourself like that."
I laughed derisively. "Please, I had to cut a work deal with you to pretend to be my husband. That should tell you everything you need to know."
"That's not true."
"Please don't lie to make me feel better about the sorry state of my personal affairs."
"I'm not. Hermione, I would have said yes to helping you out without the promotion."
I turned to face him. "But...why?"
"Dunno." I could see the outline of a smile play at his lips in the darkness. "Sometimes I like to think that you're my friend in addition to my boss. And you shouldn't write yourself off so easily."
"As flattering as that sounds, you're in the minority there. I know the rest of the office hates me. If my staff doesn't like me, how can anyone else want to take a chance on me? I haven't had a match on any of those dating apps in months."
"They're missing out, then."
"I—what?"
Was he joking? If he was, it wasn't funny. And if he wasn't...what did that mean? Was he insinuating I was attractive? In my own mind, I was far from it, especially compared to Lavender, his ex-girlfriend. Wait, why was I comparing myself to Lavender? And why was my heart suddenly beating faster in my chest? This didn't mean anything. I was so busy in my own head that I didn't notice Ron prop himself up to look at me.
"They're missing out."
For once in my life, I didn't know how to respond. I stared at him, my lips parted, but no words formed to counter his claim. A rush of want flooded my body, much to my dismay. This was only supposed to be a business agreement, and yet my insides were screaming traitorously as my brain replayed the kiss we'd shared last night for the hundredth time today.
I wanted to kiss him again. Desperately. The soft glow of the moonlight poured in through the window, and Ron was close enough that I could make out the characteristics of his face. I couldn't help it as my eyes traveled down, and I gazed at his lips for a single moment. As I forced them to look back up, our eyes met, and I could see my own question reflect back at me in his gaze.
I don't know who leaned in first, but before I knew it, his lips were on mine, and that same rush I'd felt last night that caused me to linger for more was back again. But this time, no one was around and watching as my hands were in his hair and his were trailing down my back, pulling me closer to him. I swung my leg around and straddled him as my hands immediately moved down and grabbed at the hem of his shirt. He was reluctant to take his hands off me, but he lifted his arms, and I pulled the top off of him.
Ron was lean and muscular and, if I was being honest with myself, just my type. He was peppering kisses down my jawline onto my neck as I pressed myself against him. I could feel his erection through his thin pajama pants and needed more. Reaching for the hem of my own top now, I pulled up and over my head, tossing it to the side as Ron paused to look at me.
It didn't take long for his lips to find mine again as his hands explored my breasts before reaching around and unclasping my bralette. The skin to skin contact felt amazing as I whimpered against his mouth. He managed to flip me over, so now I was on my back, and he was on top of me. I felt him press against my thigh and reached for his bottoms, pulling them down as far as my arms would let me. He managed to kick them off while not missing a beat, so I moved to slide my own silk bottoms down to my feet.
Ron's lips tore away from mine as he kissed down my body, taking one nipple in his mouth as he licked and sucked while his hand kneaded the other. Waves of desire shot through me as I involuntarily pressed my hips into his length. Much to my dismay, he continued kissing down my body before pausing above my tattoo. His thumbs hooked onto my knickers and pulled them down. He leaned in and gently pressed his lips over the symbol that was permanently etched onto my skin before showing me the most pleasure I'd ever received from a man in my life.
I let out a breathy 'ohhh' as he shushed me while lavishing my center with his tongue. One of his hands reached up to fondle my breast once more as I instinctively tightened my thighs around his head. So this is what pleasure feels like. I tried my best not to think about the fact that this was my former assistant as I felt my climax build. My hips began bucking uncontrollably as Ron urged me on with his tongue. It didn't take long to come undone around him as the shockwaves kept coming. It was all I could do to not scream out from the pleasure.
He lifted himself over me as I finally settled and met lips with his own. I could taste myself on his tongue and instantly knew I wanted him inside me. I reached down and wrapped my fingers around his cock through the thin fabric of his pants before giving him the hint that I wanted them off. He quickly obliged but paused before returning to his position on top of me.
"You sure?" he asked, his breath hitched.
"Positive," I assured him.
"Fuck, okay." He positioned himself, and I could almost feel him about to enter me when he paused. "Shit. I don't have a condom."
Neither did I. I was about to ask if there might be one on the nightstand, but that was wishful thinking considering his family thought we were married. Well, I was on contraceptives, and my period had just ended earlier that week, so I figured I was safe.
"It's fine, as long as you're clean."
"Yeah. You?"
"Yes." Ron looked as though he was hesitating for a second, and despite already having one mind-blowing orgasm, I needed more of him. "Ron, please," I whined in a voice that was rather uncharacteristic of me.
He leaned down and kissed me as I felt him slowly slide inside me. I was ready and waiting for him, and it felt so good.
"Fuck, Hermione."
I hoped that meant it felt just as good for him. Never in a million years did I ever think I'd be right here, doing this with Ron Weasley, yet here we were, and I had to admit it was the best sex I'd ever had. We found a rhythm with each other almost instantly, and it felt like it was a well-practiced dance between us. The heat of his skin against mine turned me on even more as he thrust in and out. I leaned my head back against the pillow as I felt his fingers thread through my hair. My own fingers raked up and down his back reaching down to cup his firm arse.
I could tell by how his speed was picking up that he was drawing closer to release, and I urged him on as I met each of his thrusts with my own. He grunted as I leaned up and captured his mouth with my own, just seconds before he stiffened above me, and I felt him spill inside me. He propped himself up after a moment, and our eyes met. I searched for something, but I wasn't sure what. Neither of us had intended to become intimate, yet here we were, naked and still connected in the most intimate way possible.
He slowly pulled out of me before laying down at my side. I rolled over to clean myself up before putting my own pajamas back on. Ron followed suit and reached for his own bottoms but left the shirt discarded on the floor. I didn't mind as I climbed back into bed. I wasn't one that usually snuggled with a man after having sex, but something felt different with Ron. He welcomed me to his side as his arm wrapped around me, and for the first time, I felt completely content falling asleep with another man.
The wall of pillows that had separated us the night before lay forgotten on the floor, and neither Ron nor I said a word as we drifted off to sleep. I knew the inevitable question of 'now what?' would need to be answered eventually, but for now, it could wait until morning.